How to have SWA and lighting pendants????

[rocker]

Hello all, I've come a bit unstuck on designing a rewire; basically the place has a problem with rodents, and any wiring in the ceiling voids etc needs to be protected. I've settled on doing this with SWA, but the people want all normal lighting pendants etc throughout, and also it's a big old farmhouse and I can't do too much to it's ceilings etc.... does anyone know how I can get an SWA run terminated into standard light pendants without ANY unprotected cabling being in the ceiling void and without any extra holes/screws etc in the ceiling? I will be bringing the neutrals to the switches by the way, so there will only be one cable going to each pendant.

Ugh!

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Is SWA still not going to be subject to damage from fauna? Would pest control be easier?

I'd just terminate the SWA into conduit boxes fixed into position, with pendants fitted to the boxes.

 

[londonlec]

I'd do it same way as above.
But I'd also be looking at steel conduit.

 

[Electricalserv]

Take SWA to adaptable box. Then twin and earth to light. You'd probably be better with conduit!

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Conduit would always be the best option against the little blighters.

 

[rocker]

I'd prefer galv cond to be honest but I am not allowed to take up many floorboards etc so I need something fairly flexible that I can push around the place. To be honest the whole affair is gving me a headache and I half wish I hadn't bothered.

This place is like a co-op with all people on it, not like straight up hippies but they are still of the opinion that the vermin have just as much right to be here, so extermination doesn't look like an option.

 

[Knobhead]

If needs be you can get extension rings to fit to round conduit boxes to give more depth to go though the ceiling. Or you could use BESSA boxes which are top entry and deeper than a normal stop end box.

 

[Electricalserv]

I'd prefer galv cond to be honest but I am not allowed to take up many floorboards etc so I need something fairly flexible that I can push around the place. To be honest the whole affair is gving me a headache and I half wish I hadn't bothered.

This place is like a co-op with all people on it, not like straight up hippies but they are still of the opinion that the vermin have just as much right to be here, so extermination doesn't look like an option.

Your not allowed to take floor boards up? Thats like saying to a bricklayer your not allowed to touch any bricks!

 

[rocker]

I know it's a nightmare.

OK I like the galv box idea, but the thing is wherever I've come across pendants into galv boxes, obviously the boxes are held in place by.... well, galv. If it's just cleated SWA, the box isn't going to be held in place except for the comression between the box and the pendant on the ceiling, if you knw what I mean. Willthis be sufficient?

 

[Sparky Ninja]

What about flexible conduit/kopex? Is that any good against rats? Maybe that with some multicore?

TBH, if you are getting a poor amount of co-operation from them then just make an effort and leave it at that. The best install is in steel conduit but if there is limitation then so be it.

 

[rocker]

I don't know if kopex would do the trick really. They aren't being uncooperative, maybe I've given the wrong idea, they are OK but they are slowly doing this place up and there are areas that, shall we say, structurally must be left as they are until they are fixed, and the plan isn't to get them fixed for another year or so...

 

[Sparky Ninja]

I don't know if kopex would do the trick really. They aren't being uncooperative, maybe I've given the wrong idea, they are OK but they are slowly doing this place up and there are areas that, shall we say, structurally must be left as they are until they are fixed, and the plan isn't to get them fixed for another year or so...

Well it's a strange one then mate. Nowhere in appendix 5 does it say that fauna have a right to live there too!!
If anything that'll be the special location agricultural which will suggest steel conduit or SWA anyways..

Well as the SWA is likely to be relatively flexible, assuming it CSA of course, then I'd stick to the plan of metal boxes above then. You may have to install some noggins or something though for a fixing??

 

[Goody]

You could consider this The Original BS8436 Cable | Flexishield

 

[rocker]

Thanks Widdler.

Goody, have you (or anyone else) used this stuff? Do you think it would be good against rodent attack?

 

[Knobhead]

As to securing the boxes it’s 5 minute job to knock up a timber frame between the joists to hold them. I had an 8 arm chandelier in my first house, my drunken party trick was swinging from it, followed by falling off The chandelier was fine, more than could be said for me after the earwiging I got the next morning from the wife.


Zorro eat your heart out!